Wallboard edge clip apparatus

ABSTRACT

The wallboard edge clip apparatus provides for the edges of two adjoining collinear wallboards to be joined, without regard to stud location, thereby saving labor and material expense in wallboard use. Where previously wallboard had to be cut to align with a stud or the like, then fastened to the stud or other backing, the present apparatus allows for wallboard length retention, even though no stud or other backing material is immediately present. An adjoining wallboard is then joined immediately adjacent to the first. The apparatus requires no removable devices in installation and does not execute immediate bonding with wallboard. Rather, the apparatus is positioned as needed, whether in wallboard positioned vertically, horizontally, or at an angle, then fastened with existing wallboard fasteners as desired. The apparatus does not require removal after wallboard installation, another time saving feature.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In installing wallboard, such as sheetrock drywall for example, onto studs, the wallboard end often meets an empty area between studs. Previously, the practice in dealing with this problem has been to cut the wallboard off at about mid stud, then piece the next wallboard against the first, and continue in this manner. This procedure is wasteful and time consuming. The present apparatus provides for the edges of two adjoining collinear wallboards to be joined, without regard to stud location, thereby saving time and product waste.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The wallboard edge clip apparatus relates to wallboard installation devices and more especially to an apparatus that provides for the edges of two adjoining collinear wallboards to be joined

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the wallboard edge clip apparatus, described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a wallboard edge clip apparatus which has many novel features that result in an improved wallboard edge clip apparatus which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by prior art, either alone or in combination thereof.

To attain this, the wallboard edge clip apparatus provides for the edges of two adjoining collinear wallboards to be joined, without regard to stud location, thereby saving labor and material expense in wallboard use. Where previously wallboard had to be cut to align with a stud or the like, then fastened to the stud or other backing, the present apparatus allows for wallboard length retention, even though no stud or other backing material is immediately present. An adjoining wallboard is then joined immediately adjacent to the first. The apparatus requires no removable devices in installation and does not execute immediate bonding with wallboard. Rather, the apparatus is positioned as needed, whether in wallboard positioned vertically, horizontally, or at an angle, then fastened with existing wallboard fasteners as desired. The apparatus does not require removal after wallboard installation, another time saving feature.

The preferred front thickness of about 0.03 inches is important in that support of the abutting wallboards is provided at the same time that minimal invasion of interior surfaces is established. Usually the wallboard is covered with a coverage material, such as plaster for example. Minimal front thickness provides for minimal coverage material use and labor. Also important is that the front provides a plurality of small orifices so that coverage material bonds to the apparatus. The preferred rear thickness of about 0.05 inches is important as proper support of the abutting wallboards is provided. Various thicknesses of both front and rear are provided to meet a variety of needs in construction.

The preferred size of the front and rear may be important, although various sizes of the apparatus are provided. The preferred most frequently used size sees the front and rear with a total length of about 5.50 inches and a total width of about 3.13 inches. The length and width importantly provide for substantial support between wallboards while at the same time minimalizing distance between wallboards. The front and rear are spaced apart differently on the slightly differing first end and second end, with the first end first separation between front and rear of differing by about 0.08 inch less than the second end. The first and second separation distances may be provided to accommodate differing wallboard thickness, such as wallboards having ½ inch, ⅝ inch, and ¾ inch thicknesses. The first separation distance disposed between the front and back of the first end provides for slightly more automatic clamping and retention to a wallboard, a feature especially useful upon initial installation of the apparatus.

Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the improved wallboard edge clip apparatus so that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.

An object of the wallboard edge clip apparatus is to save material costs.

An object of the wallboard edge clip apparatus is to save labor costs.

An object of the wallboard edge clip apparatus is to abut coplanar adjoining wallboards without regard to stud or other backing materials.

Another object of the wallboard edge clip apparatus is to be permanently installed.

A further object of the wallboard edge clip apparatus is to negate the use of any removable clips or other installation devices.

An added object of the wallboard edge clip apparatus is to be minimally invasive on interior walls.

And, an object of the wallboard edge clip apparatus is to provide for wall coverage material adhesion.

These together with additional objects, features and advantages of the improved wallboard edge clip apparatus will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the improved wallboard edge clip apparatus when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the improved wallboard edge clip apparatus in detail, it is to be understood that the wallboard edge clip apparatus is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the improved wallboard edge clip apparatus.

It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the wallboard edge clip apparatus. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view.

FIG. 5 is a lateral cross sectional view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, the principles and concepts of the wallboard edge clip apparatus generally designated by the reference number 10 will be described.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus 10 comprises a top 20 spaced apart from the bottom 21, a first end 24 spaced apart from the second end 25, and a rectangular front 22 spaced apart from a rectangular rear 23.

Referring again to FIG. 1 and also to FIG. 5, the separator 50 is disposed centrally and vertically between the front 22 and the rear 23. The plurality of spaced apart small orifices 42 is disposed in the front 22. The plurality of spaced apart larger orifices 44 is disposed between the small orifices 42.

Referring to FIG. 4, the front thickness 32 is about 0.03 inches. The rear thickness 33 is about 0.05 inches, the thicknesses therefore importantly differing by about 0.020 inch. Referring to FIG. 2, the plurality of spaced apart small orifices 42 is disposed in the rear 23. The apparatus 10 length 26 is about 5.50 inches. The apparatus 10 width 27 is about 3.13 inches. Referring to FIG. 3, the first separation distance 30 between the front 22 and the rear 23 of the first end 24 is about 0.45 inches. The second separation distance 31 between the front 22 and rear 23 of the second end 25 is about 0.53 inches. These separation distances are those of the embodiment of the apparatus 10 therefore differ by about 0.08 inch and are designed to fit ½ inch wallboard.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rounded corner 46 is disposed on each of the top 20 and bottom 21 of the first ends 24 and second ends 25 of the front 22 and the rear 23. Rounded corners 46 prevent undesired catching on various wallboards. An outward taper 40 is disposed on each of the first ends 24 and second ends 25 of the front 22 and the rear 23. The outward tapers 40 provide for guided installation on wallboards without wallboard gouging or other damage.

In use, the front 22 and rear 23 of the first end 24 are selectively installed on an existing wallboard. The front 22 and rear 23 of the second end 25 are selectively installed on an existing adjacent wallboard. The wallboards are abutted to the separator 50. The separator 50 has a separator thickness 52 of about 0.13 inch that importantly provides sufficiently rigid support between the front 22 and the rear 23 while simultaneously providing close abutment of adjacent wallboards.

Referring to FIG. 2, the larger orifices 44 are in selective receipt of existing fasteners 14 so that the apparatus 10 may be attached to wallboards. While the small orifices 42 may also be used for fasteners 14, the ideal use allows the small orifices 42 for coverage material adhesion and the larger orifices 44 for fastening.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the wallboard edge clip apparatus, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the wallboard edge clip apparatus.

Directional terms such as “front”, “back”, “in”, “out”, “downward”, “upper”, “lower”, and the like may have been used in the description. These terms are applicable to the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely used for the purpose of description in connection with the drawings and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the wallboard edge clip apparatus may be used.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the wallboard edge clip apparatus. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the wallboard edge clip apparatus to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the wallboard edge clip apparatus. 

1. A wallboard edge clip apparatus comprising: a top spaced apart from a bottom, a first end spaced apart from a second end, a rectangular front spaced apart from a rectangular rear, the rectangular front and rectangular rear spaced apart differently on the first end and the second end with a first end first separation between the rectangular front and rectangular rear differing by about 0.08 inch less than a second end second separation; a separator disposed centrally and vertically between the front and the rear; a plurality of spaced apart small orifices disposed in the front; a plurality of spaced apart small orifices disposed in the rear; a plurality of spaced apart larger orifices disposed in the front between the small orifices; a rounded corner disposed on each of the top and bottom first ends and second ends of the front and the rear; an outward taper disposed on each of the first ends and second ends of the front and the rear; whereby the front and rear of the first end are selectively installed on an existing wallboard, and the front and rear of the second end are selectively installed on an existing adjacent wallboard, the wallboards abutted to the separator, the orifices in selective receipt of a plurality of existing fasteners.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a separator thickness of about 0.13 inch.
 4. (canceled)
 5. A wallboard edge clip apparatus comprising: a top spaced apart from a bottom, a first end spaced apart from a second end, a rectangular front spaced apart from a rectangular rear, the rectangular front and rectangular rear spaced apart differently on the first end and the second end with a first end first separation between the rectangular front and rectangular rear differing by about 0.08 inch less than a second end second separation; a length of about 5.50 inches; a width of about 3.13 inches; a separator disposed centrally and vertically between the front and the rear; a plurality of spaced apart small orifices disposed in the front; a plurality of spaced apart small orifices disposed in the rear; a plurality of spaced apart larger orifices disposed in the front between the small orifices; a rounded corner disposed on each of the top and bottom first ends and second ends of the front and the rear; an outward taper disposed on each of the first ends and second ends of the front and the rear; whereby the front and rear of the first end are selectively installed on an existing wallboard, and the front and rear of the second end are selectively installed on an existing adjacent wallboard, the wallboards abutted to the separator, the orifices in selective receipt of a plurality of existing fasteners.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising a separator thickness of about 0.13 inch. 7-8. (canceled)
 9. The apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising a front thickness differing from a rear thickness by about 0.020 inch. 10-11. (canceled)
 12. (canceled) 